February 12, 2021 – The third official Friday Night BeerBlog

I’ve had this conversation with more than one person, even in the last week – Coronavirus and what we’ve been through the last year has had so many sides. It has allowed us time and space to gather our thoughts, be creative, and to become resourceful if need be. For me, it has forced me to face a lot of fears and charge through them when I finally realized there was no way around them.

The bad effects are obvious – loss of life, loss of employment, loss of connection and support. The only consoling part of all of the bad shit is that we are all going through the exact same thing. If you think you’re having a hard time, ask around. No one is unchanged by this last year. The emotional fallout will be an incredible tsunami that will ripple through our existence for many, many years.

It HAS been almost a year and I think now we all have enough experience and credibility in this disaster to be able to look at each other and commiserate over the collective trauma and hardship. It’s a shared experience that will bond us forever. Much like asking someone where they were when the buildings came down in New York City on 9/11. We were all somewhere, watching – and were changed forever.

How did the worldwide coronavirus pandemic affect you? What do you remember about it? What was the worst part? How did you get through it? All things that will be written about and studied for many, many years ahead. And like members of the greatest generation and their common war experience, a look will pass between all of us that know. Words can barely describe.

There are very few specific memories I have of this past year – it’s more of a collective – but one specific experience happened just this week that I will remember for a long time. While the winter has been dark and cold so far, and even short visits with family and friends non-existent, we did see a couple of friends last weekend. As they walked in the door, it was if they had taken a long trip and were returning home at last. I waited until given permission and then it happened…

One of my closest friends came over and wrapped her arms around me in the most amazing, warm, and enveloping hug. There are almost no words that can describe it, but at that moment I felt like our hearts locked and we had an immediate knowledge of how this whole experience has sucked, but that our friendship and the sisterly love we have for one another will survive. That hug had all of the feels of knowing what each has been going through over the last twelve months; the good, the bad, the still unknown.

I am a natural hugger and have always been known to wrap my arms around anyone and everyone, but there is something about doing something that usually seems so everyday after a span of time when you aren’t allowed. Suddenly that hug meant so much more. It spoke volumes with no words. My hug told her “It’s going to be okay” and her hug told me “It’s going to be okay”.

What was better than being able to give that hug, was being able to receive that hug. And that’s important to note. No person is above needing love and support from those around them. I don’t care how strong you think a person is, everybody, and I mean EVERYbody needs support, especially now; whether it is a surprise hug, a compliment, a “how are you doing” text or phone call, or a porch visit (wink Eric Lyle).

A hug maybe wasn’t the smartest thing to do right now, but it was something that I definitely needed in that exact moment, on more than a physical level. My heart was sick and that hug was the medicine I needed. Now I don’t encourage hugging just yet, but an understanding that we are all in the same space. There is not one person who isn’t living in the CoronaWorld right now, so understanding and love should rule the day.

Soon enough we can return to the assholes we all are. 🙂 Chug Chug. Friday night quip.

Cheers.

LLM

Wanna listen to the FNBB – Podcast Version – It’s at this link:

https://www.buzzsprout.com/1594894/7838836